Raptors Flight N continues soaring at Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Raptors Flight N (Bettor’s Delight-Circus Flyer) has been raging recently. In fact, the 10-year-old harness racing gelding has been a cash machine for his connections of late, as the $20,000 claimer recorded his fourth straight victory Saturday night at The Meadowlands in a $20,000-$25,000 claiming handicap for pacers.

For a horse who can be purchased for $20,000, his earnings over his last four starts are incredible, at $29,750. For the season, he’s won seven-of-19 attempts and banked $63,261 for trainer-owner Besim Odza.

“It’s just been working out,” said Todd McCarthy, who has guided Raptors Flight N in each of his four-pack. “He had to come first-over on the turn and he hung in there strong. Were he to bump up in class, it can be a little trickier, but this seems to be the right spot for him.”

After scoring at 25-1 on May 12, ‘The Raptor’ won as the 8-5 favorite one week later before a victory at 3-1 on May 27. Saturday night, the public bet with both hands, as Raptors Flight N returned $3.40 as the 3-5 public choice.

It was an eventful night for McCarthy, as his three winners paced the driver colony.

The 30-year-old pilot from Down Under also guided Combustion (Captaintreacherous), currently ranked No. 7 in The Big M’s weekly “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” Top 10 poll, to a victory in 1:51 in a conditioned event against older foes in the first start of the year for the Brett Pelling-trained Grand Circuit hopeful.

“He was off a pair of (1):52 qualifiers,” said McCarthy. “And he did a pretty job tonight. I had to move him to the front. He seemed pretty sharp. The track wasn’t super-fast tonight, for sure.”

McCarthy did double duty, as in the morning qualifiers, he drove older pacing superstar Allywag Hanover to an easy 1:52.4 win one week after an eventful qualifier in which he was somewhat hard to handle at the start going off stride.

“He’s a real character,” said McCarthy. “He was a little fresh last week. I think he had come back and was feeling too good. We put the hood back on him today and he knew it was time to get back to work.”

Pelling said Allywag’s first start of the season could come in the Gold Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 17, the night of the North America Cup.

A LITTLE MORE: Delayed Hanover won the trotting feature in 1:53.1 for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer Kevin McDermott as the 1-2 favorite while 7-5 public choice Dean B Hanover hit the winner’s circle in the marquee pacing event for Tim Tetrick and Jeff Cullipher in 1:51. … Stacy Chiodo and Tom Fanning were the top trainers with two winners apiece. … All-source wagering on the 13-race card totaled $3,207,785. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands